Chapter 3

Population & Culture

I. The Study of HumanGeography

A. Demography – statistical study of human

populations

• Population Density• Population Distribution• Natural Increase• World Population

Trends

1. Population Density

• Avg # of people in an area, expressed as persons per sq. mi. or km.

• Population Density varies worldwide

* Canada = 8/mi

* Bangladesh = 2,349/mi

• Depends on size of country, size of population & environmental conditions

Population Density

2. Population Distribution

• People are spread out UNEVENLY over earth. Why? To live in areas favorable for settlement.

* fertile soil* access to fresh water* mild climates

• 90% live in northern hemisphere• 2/3 of those live in mid-latitudes (20 - 60N)• Many in fertile river valleys near edges of

continents• Few people in polar climates, deserts, rugged

mts.

3. Population Change• # of people depends on 3 major factors

a. birthrate: # of births/yr for every 1000 living in

a place

b. deathrate: # of deaths /yr for every 1000 living in a place

c. Migration: process of moving from one place to another

- emigrants: people who leave (exit) a country to live in another

- immigrants: people who come into a new country to live

• Zero Population Growth: birthrate + I = Deathrate +E

4. Rate of Natural Increase

• Birthrate – deathrate, implying the annual rate of population growth or decline w/o regard for migration (expressed as %)

• Varies worldwideworld: 1.2%US: 0.6%Russia: -0.6%Uganda: 3.1%

• If country grows at 3%, it will double in 23 yrs!! (doubling time)

Rates of birth, death, and natural increase per 1,000 population

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1950-1955

1955-1960

1960-1965

1965-1970

1970-1975

1975-1980

1980-1985

1985-1990

1990-1995

1995-2000

2000-2005

Birth rate Death rate

Natural Increase

Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision, 2005.

Birth and Death Rates, Worldwide

5. Population Growth

• Population has grown rapidly in last 200 years. Why?

a. improved farm technologyb. improved public sanitationc. improved medical technology

• Explosive growth in developing countries• Near zero population growth in many developed

countries• Concern of overpopulation – when # of people

too large to be supported by available resources

A.D.2000

A.D.1000

A.D.1

1000B.C.

2000B.C.

3000B.C.

4000B.C.

5000B.C.

6000B.C.

7000B.C.

1+ million years

8

7

6

5

2

1

4

3

OldStoneAge New Stone Age

BronzeAge

IronAge

MiddleAges

ModernAge

Black Death —The Plague

9

10

11

12

A.D.3000

A.D.4000

A.D.5000

18001900

1950

1975

2000

2100

Future

Billions

Source: Population Reference Bureau; and United Nations, World Population Projections to 2100 (1998).

World Population Growth Through History

Ninth

Eighth

Seventh

Sixth

Fifth

Fourth

Third

Second

First Billion

Number of years to add each billion (year)

All of Human History (1800)

130 (1930)

30 (1960)

15 (1975)

12 (1987)

12 (1999)

14 (2013)

14 (2027)

21 (2048)

Sources: First and second billion: Population Reference Bureau. Third through ninth billion: United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision (medium scenario), 2005.

World Population Growth, in Billions

Billions

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1950 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050

Less Developed Regions

More Developed Regions

Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision (medium scenario), 2005.

Growth in More, Less Developed Countries

6. Patterns of Settlement

• Most North Americans and Europeans live in cities

• Urbanization: growth of proportion of people living in towns & cities

• Urban growth in rich countries is slowing

• Urban growth in developing countries is rapid as people enter looking for jobs

• Rural: countryside

Where do cities emerge?

• Near key resources• Location along

transportation & trade routes (river crossings, natural harbors, head of a delta)

• Easily defended sites (defensive hilltop site or defensive site controlling a pass)

Chicago

Urban PopulationPercent

29

15 17

53

47

37 37

76

55

42

74

85

54

61

82

World Africa Asia Latin Americaand the

Caribbean

MoreDeveloped

Regions

1950 2000 2030

Source: United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2003 Revision (medium scenario), 2004.

Trends in Urbanization, by Region

B. Cultural GeographyCulture

* all features of a people’s way of life

* learned and passed down from parents to

children through teaching, example &

imitation

* includes language, religion, architecture,

clothing, economics, family life, food, gov’t,

roles of women/men etc.

World Languages

Language Tree

Dominant Religious Traditions

1. Cultural Hearth

• A place where important ideas begin and from which they spread to surrounding cultures

• SW Asia: domestication of animals, crops, writing & math

• China: language, arts, technology

2. Cultural traits

• Some the same around the world: reading, math, alphabets,

• Some different: knife & fork vs chopsticks

• Some traits linked, such as religion, farming, use of technology

- example: The Amish in America

3. Cultural Regions

• An area in which people have many shared culture traits

• Some countries have one dominant culture (Japan), others may have many (Kenya, South Africa)

• Country borders sometimes divide culture regions and separate one ethnic group (Kurds)

• Can be made up of several countries with same language, traditions, systems of gov’t (Australia & New Zealand)

“Kurdistan”

4. Cultural Landscapes

• Humans alter landscape in their use of natural resources

• Ag. landscape in US very diff. than China

• Many urban landscapes worldwide are similar

5. Social Organization• Every culture organized into smaller units

* Family most important in all cultures* Family structure diff. in diff. cultures

• Social Ranking – ranked in order of status* $* occupation* education* ancestry

• In most countries, some degree of social mobility – have opportunity to rise in society thru education, economic achievement, political action

6. Women & Minorities• Social mobility

restricted in some cultures

• History of discrimination, violence against ethnic & religious minorities

• Majority groups have used economic measures to discriminate

7. Cultural Changea. Cultural Convergence

* skills, art, ideas, habits, institutions of one culture come in contact with

those of another.

b. Diffusion – process by which a cultural element is transmitted across some distance from one grp or individual to another

* migration

c. Acculturation: • adopting some traits from another culture• cultural modifications resulting from intercultural

borrowing • usually this implies changes in an indigenous culture

caused by the imposition of a technologically more advanced culture (e.g. colonists)

• a one-way transfer of cultural traits

EXAMPLES• The Amerindians of North America (US and

Canada) were acculturated into western, European, society. The culture of the colonists replaced that of the Native Americans.

D. Cultural Divergence – restriction of a culture from outside cultural influences

- often practiced by repressive govts

- restrict free mvmt in/out

- seek to control transp./commun.

The governments of Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia block the access to the Internet websites that are focused on social, political and free speech issues. In less than a week, the Egyptian Internet website www.masreyat.org was blocked by the Egyptian government and the Saudi website www.rezgar.com was threatened to be sued. A Saudi businessman accused them of uploading contents that are unacceptable for Muslims.

Saudi Arabia is an Islamic monarchy without legal protection for freedom of religion, and such protection does not exist in practice. Islam is the official religion, and the law requires that all citizens be Muslims. The Government prohibits the public practice of non-Muslim religions. The Government recognizes the right of non-Muslims to worship in private; however, it does not always respect this right in practice.

Free Speech?

Just some current examples of how gov’ts can restrict cultural contact

The Columbian Exchange – just a reminder from 8th grade history. More than just

cultural traits can be exchanged!

• Contact between any two peoplesgeographically separated from oneanother results in an ‘exchange’ ofphysical elements

• The three main elements are: Plants, animals microbes

II. Political & Economic SystemsA. What is a country?

B. Types of Gov’t

C. Conflict & Cooperation

D. Types of Economic Systems

A. What is a country? 4 characteristics: territory, population, sovereignty, gov’t

1. Clearly defined territory

a. Includes land, water, natural resources (NR)

b. NR more important than size

c. Unequal distribution of NR has led to conflict

d. Natural division can serve as boundaries

e. Boundaries can shrink/expand due to war or

negotiation

f. Geog. Factors influence nation’s pwr to control territory (ex. Great Britain: easy access to travel & trade

2. Population

a. Vary in size (China,1.3B vs. Canada, 33M)

b. Vary in population density (Mongolia, 4.3/sq. mi vs. Bangladesh,

2,200 + /sq. mi)

c. Vary in cultural diversity (USA vs.

Japan

3. Sovereignty (freedom from outside control)

a. Country is sovereign if it can rule itself or act independently -free to

make own laws & have own leaders

b. Can deal equally w/ other countries and protect its territory & citizens -

can negotiate/deal w/ other countries in peace (diplomacy) – make trade agreements, deal with int’l orgs.

c. Geog. Factors can help nation defend/maintain sovereignty (UK vs Poland)

4. Governmenta. Good gov’ts protect lives, property, freedoms, & rights of their citizens

- ensures conditions needed for economies to develop & for

people to prosperb. Unstable gov’ts don’t last long or have

little authority- gov’t corruption – political leaders use

public office to enrich themselves or their friends

A more comprehensive list of requirements

• Has space or territory which has internationally recognized boundaries (boundary disputes are OK).

• Has people who live there on an ongoing basis. • Has economic activity and an organized economy. A

country regulates foreign and domestic trade and issues money.

• Has the power of social engineering, such as education. • Has a transportation system for moving goods and

people. • Has a government which provides public services and

police power. • Has sovereignty. No other State should have power over

the country's territory. • Has external recognition. A country has been "voted into

the club" by other countries

B. Structure of Government• Government structure – how gov’ts are

classified based on relationship btwn smaller units (states) & the central govt1. Unitary: central govt rules entire

nation2. Federation: Nat’l govt shares pwr w/ state govts3. Confederation: smaller levels of govt keep most of the pwr & give central govt very limited pwrs

C. Government Authority• Govt Authority – who has the power?

Authoritarian (govt has the power) vs Democracy (people have the power)

• Worldwide trend shows gradual shift from authoritarian towards democracy

Authoritarian

Gov’t

Citizens

Democratic

Citizens

Gov’t

1. Authoritarian Gov’tsa.Dictatorship – most common form of

authoritarian govt. - an individual or small grp holds complete or absolute political pwr

- the leader has not been elected and often uses military/political terror to stay in pwr- people not free to voice opinions- dictator’s power usually not restricted by constitution or laws- in a military dictatorship, the army is in control

Some of the world’s most

notorious Dictators

Omar al-Bashir of Sudan

Kim Jong-il of North Korea

Hu Jintao of China

The 2007 Parade Magazine's "World's Worst Dictators" list

b.Totalitarian: a gov’t that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by controlling not only all political & economic matters, but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population

c. Communist State- Govt & an economic system- The state plans & controls the economy

and a single-often authoritarian-party holds power

- state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society)

d. Monarchy – hereditary rulers

- ruling family headed by king or queen holds political power

- past: ruled w/ dictatorial pwrs – absolute monarchs

- present: most are now Constitutional Monarchies – share pwr w/ citizen bodies

- pwr rests w/ elected lawmaking body, monarch ceremonial or represents nat’l unity Queen Elizabeth

Monarchy TodayJapan 

Great Britain  Spain 

Netherlands Sweden 

Belgium   Norway 

Saudi Arabia  Malaysia 

Kuwait  UAE 

Morocco  Luxemburg 

Oman  Jordan 

Qatar  Nepal   Brunei 

Lesotho  Swaziland 

Liechtenstein 

Monaco  Bhutan  Samoa  Tonga  

- Empire  Kingdom  Kingdom  Kingdom  Kingdom  Kingdom Kingdom  Kingdom Kingdom  Emirate    Emirates  Kingdom  Grand Duchy  Sultanate  Kingdom  Emirate  Kingdom Sultanate  Kingdom Kingdom   Principality  Principality  Kingdom Chiefdom   Kingdom

Ceremonial Head of State vs. Absolute

MonarchNetherlands

Japan

Belgium

Swaziland

Saudi Arabia

Brunei

• Most European nations are Constitutional Monarchies

– Sys of gov where monarh guided by constitution – rights & responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom

• How a constitutional monarchy differs from U.S. Government?

– Parliament: Elect a party. Party leader becomes Prime minister. (determine elections)

• Nationalized healthcare, housing, and industry.

• Royal Family figure heads to unify nation have no political power. (Wealthy and help with tourism.)

Misc. info about European Monarchies

2. Gov’ts where people have the power!

a. Democracy citizens hold political pwr- direct democracy- representative democracy (most common) – adult citizens vote for people who make the laws- leaders chosen by voting in

free elections- value individual freedoms &

human rights

3. Miscellaneous forms of gov’t. - theocracy: religious leaders control the

govt (Tibet – Dalai Lama)- rely on religious law- consultation w/ religious scholars

- aristocracy: govt by the best or privileged class

- Plutocracy: gov’t by the wealthy- Kleptocracy: govt by those seeking

personal gain at the expense of the governed

D. Conflict & Cooperation

1. Political Conflicts

a. Competing feelings of nationalism (pride & loyalty for one’s country)

b. Differing culture traits (religion, ethnicity, etc)

c. Type of gov’t

d. Economic issues – trade disputes, tariffs & quotas

2. Terrorism – the use of violence & fear as a political force.

a. some terrorists want independence for homelands that may be under

control of another country

b. some terrorists have political goals – to change policies

c. don’t usually act under direct authority of govt but may be protected or supported financially

3. Int’l Cooperation

a. United Nations (UN): most countries are members

- goals to settle int’l disputes, to prevent wars, humanitarian aid (disease, hunger, illiteracy)

b. Economic cooperation/free trade

- helps countries produce goods at lower costs & reach larger

markets. People can then buy these goods at lower prices

- reduce tariffs & quotas

E. Types of Economic Systems

- 3 basic economic questions

What to make?How much to

make?Who to make it for?

1. Traditional Economy (subsistence economy)

a. all goods & svc produced & consumed by

the family/for family

b. Very little surplus or exchange of goods

c. Found in poor countries,

mostly in rural areas

2. Market Economya. People freely choose what to buy & sell

according to the laws of supply & demandb. Individuals or companies make decisions

about production & distribution – competitionc. Capitalism – biz, industries, resources are

privately ownedd. In US, govt provides some svc & imposes

some govt regulationse. Pure capitalism: gov’t plays NO part in

economy

3. Command Economy

a. Central Govt makes decisions about production/distribution -

decides what to make, where to make it, how much to make, what price to charge, what to pay workers

b. Production doesn’t necessarily reflect consumer demand

c. Communist economy – govt owns, operates all major farms, factories, utilities, stores

D. Mixed Economya. Combo of command & market economies

b. Socialism: state owns/operates some basic industries while allowing pvt enterprise in other parts of economy

c. Belief that wealth should be distributed more equally – all entitled to certain goods/svcs

d. “welfare states” characterized by HIGH TAXES to pay for the many social svcs like housing, health care, child care, pensions

Mixed Economy (Socialism)

Government Private Enterprise

Operates some businesses

Owns some businesses

Laws of Supply & DemandDetermine

price & production

Determine price &

production